Adjarian Conundrum a Serious Challenge for Tbilisi

Georgia’s central authorities are still in war of words with the leadership of its defiant Autonomous Republic of Adjara, as intimidation and violence continues against journalists and opposition activists in this south-western Georgian region.

President Saakashvili vowed on March 5 to gain control over the Autonomous Republic. Earlier Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze expressed concern that Tbilisi seeks for “total control” over Adjara.

“Yes, I want [to control region] and I will take control over Adjara. Times when the central authorities were unable to control Autonomous Republic have gone,” Saakashvili told reporters.

Aslan Abashidze’s decade-long unilateral rule in Adjara has been shaken and opposition movement increased after last November’s revolution in Georgia, as Abashidze’s political foe Mikheil Saakashvili and his allies took over the power. However, despite mounting opposition movement in the region, Abashidze desperately grips for power.

These desperate attempts to retain power often grow into the violence against the opponents of the Adjarian leadership, as well as against the representative of independent media sources.

On March 5 investigative reporter from the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television Vakhtang Komakhidze, who was assignment in Adjara to make a story about the family of Abashidze and his relatives, who sever on high position in the local government, was attacked and severely bean up in Adjara, just beside the police station.

“I am sure that the attack is connected to my activity in Adjara. I found out that around 40 relatives of Abashidze are on high positions in Adjara and they possess a huge wealth,” Vakhtang Komakhidze, said while speaking to Rustavi 2 television from Tbilisi hospital, where he was transported after attack.

President Saakashvili ordered on March 5 Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze to track-down those, responsible for attacked on journalist.

“I officially commission Aslan Abashidze to do everything possible to investigate the fact of the attack on the journalist within 10 days, and for all responsible to appear in court,” Saakashvili told reporters.

President Saakashvili warned Adjarian leadership that if his demand were not met the General Prosecutor’s office would open criminal cases against all the officials in charge of the case.

This was not a first case of attack against the journalist. Reporters from another Tbilisi-based Imedi television were twice attacked in Adjara. Editor of local newspaper Batumelebi Mzia Amaghlobeli says “reporters of the newspaper are under permanent pressure from the authorities.”

Journalist Vakhtang Komakhidze accused the Batumi police officials for attack. He said that there are several groups under the direct subordination of Autonomous Republic’s police officials, “which are used in so called punitive actions against the opponents of Abashidze.” 

“These very groups are used in violent attacks against the opposition activists. Locals call these groups ‘men in black’ and mainly consist of people close to the Adjarian leadership,” Komakhidze said.

The opposition Our Adjara movement also claims that there “are illegal armed groups” under the Adjarian leadership’s control.

“The opposition rallies in Batumi, including the recent one [on February 20] was attacked by one of these groups,” Tamaz Diasamidze of Our Adjara movement says.

Dozens were injured during the clashes between the opposition and supporters of Abashidze on February 20 in Batumi. The clashes were followed by the violent raids against the Our Adjara’s offices. Two days late another opposition Christian-Democratic party’s office was burned down.

The central authorities condemned the violence and demanded in vain to arrest those behind the violence.

Political analysts say that Abashidze would be one of the most serious challenges for the new President. Saakashvili, who has pledged to take firm central control of throughout the country and eradicate corruption, can not tolerate Abashidze’s power in Adjara. On the other hand Abashidze also shows little signs of readiness to liberalize his governance in Adjara and continues defying central authorities.

Our Adjara opposition movement says that holding of fair parliamentary elections in the Autonomous Region, which is notorious for widespread ballot fraud, on March 28, “would be a best way of moving Abashidze from power.” However, opposition activists fear that Abashidze might further escalate tensions in the region in order to obstruct voting.

“In case of fair elections in Adjara, the [Abashidze-led] Revival Union party has no chance to clear 7% threshold [necessary to gain seats in the Georgian Parliament],” Edward Surmanidze of Our Adjara movement said on March 4.  

However, representative of the Autonomous Republic to Tbilisi Hamlet Tchipashvili said on the same day, that the elections will be held in Adjara and “the Revival will participate in these elections.”